A Maghaberry prison officer is facing disciplinary action after posting a “vile rant” about a colleague who suffered horrific injuries in a violent jail attack.

Prison Governor Paul Cawkwell needed emergency surgery last July to rebuild his face and head after he was kicked and beaten in an assault at Wayland Prison, Norfolk.

Mr Cawkwell had left his job as Director of Offender Policy and Operations in Northern Ireland’s high security Maghaberry Jail weeks earlier.

Prison Governor Paul Cawkwell was seriously injured in jail attack

But now a former colleague in the Co Antrim prison has been charged with misconduct under the code of conduct, after an abusive message about the injured man was posted on his personal Facebook account.

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“Mr Cawkwell was one of the top officers in Maghaberry for about three years and he left to go to Wayland, a Category C prison in Norfolk, where he had been made governor. He was in the canteen when something kicked off and he was left in a desperate state after being kicked around the head.

“He was a well-spoken sort of fella, English, and the lads thought he was quite posh but he was always thought of as fair and reasonable when he was working at Maghaberry and he had the support of the staff.

“So when we saw what this serving officer wrote on Facebook about him, it had to be reported. We cannot be expected to put up with this sort of stuff.

“A screen shot was taken of the comment and sent to the authorities and now we’re waiting to hear what will happen.

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“We’ve enough to deal with in Maghaberry with prisoner violence and abuse without serving officers acting like this. We have to stick together, we have stand up for each other and look out for each other.

“We understand the officer has been charged with misconduct. Now we will have see if the authorities think it’s as serious as we do.

Inside Maghaberry

“The incident happened to Mr Cawkwell when Wayland was dealing with a 22% staff shortage and we understand that sort of thing here. Prison staff need protection and staff who are attacked need support.

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“The prison authorities will have to deal with our colleague’s actions and in the meantime, we send Paul Cawkwell our very best wishes for a full recovery.”

The officer posted the statement on Facebook (Image: Getty Images)

Thomas Howard, 34, has been accused of assaulting prison governor Cawkwell and a dog handler at HMP Wayland on July 27 this year.

Norwich magistrates court was told last Friday how the prison boss suffered multiple fractures to his eye sockets, jaw and skull. He needed extensive surgery and metal plates inserted after the alleged attack on July 27.

Inside Maghaberry. Pic: BBC

Howard has been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and entered no plea. The case has been referred to Norwich Crown Court and a preliminary hearing will be held on 16 December.

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A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service said: “We cannot comment on individual cases or circumstances relating to staff, however under Northern Ireland Prison Service Code of Ethics and Values, staff whether on or off duty, should always act in a way which supports and upholds and reputation of the profession.

"Any violations of the Code may lead to disciplinary charges under the Prison Service Professional Code of Conduct.”